Girls, bones and soccer

Girls who play soccer and engage in other weight-bearing activities may lower their risk of bone loss later in life according to a study in the Spring issue of the journal Pediatric Physical Therapy.

The study looked at a group girls ages 10 to 17 that included 16 soccer players, 19 weightlifters and 29 swimmers, and compared the effects of each activity on bone mineral density. The girls who played soccer had the best bone mineral density followed by weight lifters and then swimmers.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that swimmers should switch their goggles for a pair of soccer shoes. Any physical activity is good for a young girl (or boy’s) health, it’s just that swimmers aren’t getting the same weight-bearing benefits as those who play impact sports.

Girls acquire about 85 to 90 percent of their adult bone mass by the time they’re 18 according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Building up healthy bone mass when you’re young means lowering risk for osteoporosis later in life.

And weight-bearing exercise isn’t the only way to ensure good bone health. Consuming the recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D, drinking alcohol in moderation and avoiding smoking will benefit your bones as well.